History of logistics in the first half of 19th century Poland

New in the Polish and European logistics reserach field for the period of first half of 19th century, monograph: "The Logistics Management in Kingdom of Poland. Flood protection and bridges, water charges and fees" was published on the 22nd of September 2015, ISBN: 978-83-62069-88-0. The aim of this research study is to show the area of logistics management in Kingdom of Poland in the context of flood protection and bridges, as well as water charges and fees. Chronological framework, depending on the availability of archive and printed source materials, is generally connected with so-called Paskievich era, i.e. with the period between two Polish uprisings of 1830/1831 and 1863, in some cases also referring to the period between 1815 and 1830. It should be noted that the logistics management of this period was strictly related to the occurrence of a number of important factors in decision-making process. Among them, the most obvious importance was, of course, combined with the transportation administration of Kingdom, which was characterized anyway by undergoing through a number of dramatic organizational changes. Originally, it preceeded as part of Government Commission of Internal Affairs (of Interior), namely as the Directorate of Land and Water Communication.

This administration has been followed in the late 30's and 40's by single board authority, to formally become since 1842 Board of Land and Water Communications, thus since 1847 becoming a direct part of Russian imperial administration, as so-called 13^th District of Communications. After a short brake of momentary independent period, finally in 1867 the Polish authorities were re-subordinated as part of St. Petersburg’s logistics management board, this time as 11^th Department of Communications.

The monograph provides a deepened analysis of many specific issues, and obtained conclusions of research show the high efficiency of the logistics management in selected aspects of the transport problems that occured in Kingom of Poland at the time. This includes issues such as: a) legislation related to flood protection; b) the issue of construction, repair and in particular of management of selected bridges; c) establishment and scope of bridge, water crossing and navigable tariffs; d) rules for getting of these fees releases. Described above research aspects of the prhenomenon of logistics in Kingdom of Poland of the hard prerussification era, were generally focused on possible reconstruction of their management processes, with particular emphasis put on their legislative aspect. Another postulate was to present, in some cases, the undertaken organizational and material solutions.